Rescue sleeve for buildings

ABSTRACT

A rescue system for evacuating individuals through a window frame of a high-rise building. The rescue sleeve ( 18 ) is foldable between a compact, standby position and an extended, sloping down to ground level position. Means ( 92, 94 ) are provided for activating the ejection of the sleeve ( 18 ) from the standby position within a compartment ( 12 ) to the extended position. The system ( 20 ) is operable to anchor the compartment ( 12 ) to the window frame in a self-supporting fashion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rescue systems for evacuatingindividuals trapped in high rise buildings in case of emergencysituations such as fire or earthquake of the type disclosed in myPCT/IL00/00477 Patent Application published as WO 01/62138 on Aug. 30,2001 (hereinafter called “the WO Patent”), the contents of which beinghereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The systems disclosed in the WO Patent and further developments thereof(cf. my Israel Patent Application Nos. 139549, 139550, 145935, 147975)are stationary, namely designed to be permanently installed in buildingsfrom which survivors are to be evacuated.

Therefore, salvation from “ordinary” high-rise buildings solely dependson the conventional firemen vehicular ladders. These ladders are oflimited capacity in terms of height and evacuation rate.

Hence, it is the general object of the present invention to provide amobile rescue sleeve system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the mobile rescuesleeve system with self-contained, remote-controlled, jaw-type system,serving to anchor the sleeve to window frames at high level buildingstories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided according to the invention is a rescue system for evacuatingindividuals through a window frame of a high-rise building comprising arescue sleeve foldable between a compact, standby position and anextended, sloping down to ground level position, means for activatingthe ejection of the sleeve from the standby position to the extendedposition, and a compartment for accommodating the sleeve and a systemoperable to anchor the compartment to the window frame in aself-supporting fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and additional constructional features and advantages of theinvention will be more clearly understood in the light of the ensuingdescription of two preferred embodiments thereof, given by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein—

FIG. 1 is a general, schematic view of the mobile rescue sleeve system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sleeve ram-and-jaws systemcompartment, in the position about to break-through and reach for awindow frame;

FIG. 3 shows the sleeve compartment in its anchored position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the ram-and-jaws system;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows the system in the unfolded position of the sleeve; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a modified embodiment, using a spiral sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, lifesaving crew truck 10 is equipped with ahydraulic boom 10 a, carrying and lifting, by beam 10 b, a rescue sleevecompartment 12. The beam is freely insertable into and retractable fromchannel 16 as will be explained below.

The compartment 12 accommodates at the exit side thereof a rescue sleeve18 (FIG. 2), e.g. of the type disclosed in the WO Patent, in the folded,standby state.

The other, entrance side of the compartment 12 stores a window-breakingram-and-jaws system generally denoted 20.

The system 20 comprises two identical, symmetrically located ram-headdisplacing sub-systems 22 a and 22 b, operating in parallel as will nowbe described with reference to FIGS. 5-8. The description will refer indetail to the sub-system 22 a, since the other, 22 b is identical.

Referring to FIG. 5 there are provided a pair of L-shaped rails 24 and26. The ram 24 is affixed to rail 28 and rail 26 to rail 30. The rail 28is carried by rollers 32 and 34 on rails 36 and 38, respectively.Similarly, the rail 30 is carried by rollers 40 and 42 on the same rails36 and 38. Consequently the rails 24 and 26 can move in parallel towardsand away from each other.

The mechanism for achieving that movement of the rails 24 and 26includes a pneumatic cylinder 44 and piston 46. The cylinder 44 issupported by stands 48 and 50 (FIG. 6) rigidly affixed to the rails 36and 38, respectively.

The piston 46 is coupled to the rails 24 and 26 by two pairs of scissorsarms 54, 56 and 58, 60. The arms 54 and 58 are pivotally connected tothe piston 46 by suitable mounting plates 62 and 64 and to the rail 24by brackets 66 and 68, respectively; the arms 56 and 60 are pivoted tothe plates 62 and 64 at one end, and, by brackets 70 and 72 to the rail26 at their other ends, respectively. Hence, extraction of the piston 46will displace rails 24 and 26 away from each other, and withdrawal ofthe piston will bring the rails closer down to the engaged positionshown in FIG. 2.

The rail 24 of the sub-system 22 a, together with its counterpart rail80 of the sub-system 22 b (see FIGS. 4 and 6) carry one of tworam-and-jaw heads 82, whereas the rails 26 and 81 carry ram-and-jaw head84.

The ram and jaw head 82 is preferably of a triangular cross-section,having a knife-edge leading end 82 a, and an upright surface 82 b (seeFIGS. 5 and 6); the same applies to the ram-and-jaw head 84.

Finally, there is provided a “floor” plate 86 at the lower level,between the sub-systems 22 a and 22 b, supported by rails 26 and 82 (seeFIG. 7), on which rescued people will walk from the room window to theentrance of the rescue sleeve 18; for extra safety reasons, a bellowsenvelope 88 may be used to conceal the view and avoid the survivorspanic when realizing the height from which they are about to glide down.

Referring now back to FIG. 2 there is shown a compressed gas container90 conveniently serving an independent power source. The pressurized gaswill operate the piston 46, as well as activate the release/winding ofthe rescue sleeve 18—all at the appropriate timing as will be describedbelow.

The gas container 90 is thus connected by suitable valve remotelycontrolled device (not shown) to the cylinder 44, and also to upper andlower cable winch units 92, 94 as schematically shown (see for detailsthe WO Patent).

The operation of the rescue system is as follows:

The compartment 12 is attached by the beam 10 b at the end of the boom10 a, to the socket 16, which is then raised and brought adjacent to andin alignment with the window from which evacuation is intended to takeplace (see FIG. 2). It should be emphasized that vehicular hydraulicbooms can be designed to reach levels higher than that of ordinaryfiremen ladders.

The boom 10 a is maneuvered so that the ram 82, 84 break the outer coverof the window, be it glass wall curtain and/or the windowpane.

Once penetration is achieved, following a command given by thelife-saving crew from the vehicle 10, the pneumatic cylinder 44 ischarged with compressed gas supplied by the container 90 and theram-jaws opening operation is started.

Of course, any equivalent prim-mover can be used such as batteryoperated electrical motor.

The ram-jaws 82, 84 will thus become firmly anchored against the upperand the lower concrete frame sides of the window, respectively (FIGS. 3and 4), and the compartment 12 becomes self-supported against the outerwall of the building.

The truck 10 can now leave the scene, after withdrawal of the beam 10 bfrom the socket 16 and folding down the hydraulic boom 10 a.

Another remote control command is now given, effective to eject thesleeve 18, e.g. in the fashion described in the WO parent.

The survivors are able to step into the entrance side of the compartment12 walking on the floor plate 86 towards the opening of the sleeve 12and glide down.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the inclined sleeve isreplaced by spiral sleeve 118 as disclosed in detail in my Israel PatentApplications No. 145935 or No. 147975. The remaining constructionaldetails and the mode of operation are self-evident in view of the aboveand need not be described in greater detail.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readilyappreciate that numerous changes, variations and modifications can beeffectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in and by the appended claims.

1. A rescue system for evacuating individuals through a window frame ofa high-rise building comprising a rescue sleeve foldable between acompact, standby position and an extended, sloping down to ground levelposition, means for activating the ejection of the sleeve from thestandby position to the emended position, and a compartment foraccommodating the sleeve characterized by a system operable to anchorthe compartment to the window frame in a self-supporting fashion.
 2. Therescue system as claimed in claim 1 further characterized in that thesystem comprises upper and lower jaw members configured to embracerespectively the upper and lower window frame sides from the inside ofthe outer wall.
 3. The rescue system as claimed in claim 2 furthercharacterized in that the jaw members are carried each by a pair ofrails, means being provided for displacing one pair of rails away fromthe other pair of rails in parallel to each other.
 4. The rescue systemas claimed in claim 3 further characterized in that the rails aresupported by rollers running along rails extending perpendicular to therails.
 5. The rescue system as claimed in claim 3 further characterizedin that the displacing means comprise a pneumatic cylinder and pistoncoupled to the rails by pivotal scissors arm assemblies, a compressedair container being provided for selectively driving the piston.
 6. Therescue system as calmed in claim 1 further characterized in that thesleeve ejecting means are selectively operable by pressurized aircharged from the container.
 7. The rescue system as claimed in claim 6further characterized by a bellows envelop surrounding the system. 8.The rescue system as claimed in claim 1 further characterized in thatthe compartment is adapted to be carried and lifted by mobilized boom.9. The rescue system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the boom comprises abeam freely insertable into and out of a channel integrally formed withthe compartment.
 10. The rescue system as claimed in claim 1 wherein thesleeve is adapted to slope down in an inclined fashion.
 11. The rescuesystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is adapted to slope downin a spiral fashion.